We were invited into a Mekong Delta home that also produced garments for sale. This young seamstress was in training, and gives us a close-up portrait of one of Vietnam's cottage industries. I use my 28mm wideangle lens and move in very close to her – she looks up with patience and humility, and while very shy, she shows no signs of self-consciousness. The lens stretches the frame to include both the sewing machine and the colorful fabric on the table behind her. My vantage point is high, looking down on this youthful apprentice seamstress. This causes her to look up at us, almost as if she is seeking approval for her work. This environmental portrait illuminates a huge segment of Vietnam’s economy – we saw dozens of homes and shops where young women worked over vintage sewing machines, manufacturing clothing seam-by-seam, and piece-by-piece. This young woman can represent all of Vietnam’s young women who earn a living working with their own hands.